George Bonham, the Immigrant

Disputed Identity and Parentage

George Bonham, immigrant to Plymouth Colony, has been confused with George Bonham, son of William Bonham of the Stanway estate in Lexden, Essex, England.

He was not the son of Anne Bonham & William Bonham

The parentage of George Bonham, immigrant to Plymouth Colony, is unknown.

Disputed Son

It has been sometimes assumed George Bonham was the father of Nicholas Bonham, but it has also been suggested that Nicholas Bonham was George's brother.[1]

Disputed wife

Seen with first wife Mary Bonham without supporting evidence

Biography

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Bonham-464

George may have been born in Leyden, Holland like his wife Sarah Morton. He was listed that way on one genealogy. No verification however. He was mentioned in "Pilgrim Notes & Queries" as being in Plymouth and old enough to be able to bear arms in 1643. He took an Oath of Fidelity in Plymouth 1657, His name is on the list of Freemen of the Colony of New Plymouth in 1683 as recorded by Nathaniel Morton, Secretary of the first Anno 1683/84. And he was also named as one of the Deacons along side of George Morton, Nathaniel Atwood, John Dunham and Richard Masterson.

George married Sarah Morton on 20 December 1644 in Plymouth, Plymouth Colony. (Their marriage is recorded in the Vital Records of Plymouth, page 655, as "GEORG BONUM and SARAH MORTON married 20 Dec. 1664) They had children:

1. Ruth - about 1646
2. Sarah - 4 December 1649
3. Sarah - 10 December 1653
4. George - about 1657

George died in Plymouth, Plymouth, Province of Massachusetts Bay. His death is recorded in "Plymouth Church Records, Volume 1, Part 3" where they list the men of the church as of March 10, 1703. His entry is as follows:

Ref: http://www.anamericanfamilyhistory.com/Bonham%20Family/BonhamGeorge...

Findagrave.com

Source: ancestry.com: George Bonham Found 10 Records, 10 Photos and 337,598 Family Trees Born in Wiltshire, England on 1605 to William Bonham and Ann Babbington. George married Sarah Morton and had 5 children. He passed away on 1704 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA. Family Members

Parents William Bonham 1600-1639

Ann Babbington 1600-1617

Spouse(s)

Sarah Morton 1612-1691

Children

Sarah Bonham 1653-1653

Ruth Bonum 1640-1677

Ruth Bonham 1666-1896

Patience Bonham 1648-1724

George Bonham 1656-1758

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The ship in the photo is of the 20th Century Amerigo Vespucci way too large for the 17th century.

Update (1) 12 Sep 2011 Please read this web article!

http://genforum.genealogy.com/bonham/messages/2010.html

If this is correct It also shows that George unlikely would have been descended from the family of Stanway Hall

Traditional thinking is he came from Stanway Hall in Essex but that George seems to have died in England. If William Bonham, vintner of London in Will of a brother who named two daughters of brother George deceased before 1628 Update (2)12 Sep 2011. This William names places in Suffolk but not in Wiltshire and Essex, so probably not of Stanway Hall either

"On April 28, 1704 dyed our brother George Bonham. He lived to a good old age being about 95 years of age. He was a good man spake well of and is gone to receive his crown."

The first of this line to be found in America is George Bonham, who came to this country from Gravesend, England, in 1635, at the age of 31. His second (2)wife was Sarah Morton, daughter of George Morton. Married 20 12 1644 First wife was Mary ___________or Miss _____Bishop Child of Samuel Bonham and wife Sarah Morton:

• Samuel Bonham I, d.1703 in Virginia, married Katherine (unk)

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GEDCOM Note

George Bonham was born in either 1604 or 1611 in England or Holland. George's first wife was named Bishop. Nicholas Bonham was born about 1630. Some genealogists believe that he was George’s brother rather than his son. George sailed to Virginia on the Phillip, with master Richard Morgan on June 20, 1635 and his age was recorded as 31 at that time. In August, 1640 he bought land and a house in Plymouth, Massachusetts. George married Sarah Morton on December 20, 1644 in Plymouth. Sarah was the daughter of George Morton and Juliana Carpenter and was born at Leyden, Holland about 1617. Ruth Bonham Barron was born about 1645. Patience Bonham Willis Holmes was born about 1647. The first child named Sarah Bonham was born on December 4, 1649. She died early in 1650. The second child named Sarah Bonham was born on January 12, 1650/51. She died soon after. The third child named Sarah Bonham was born on December 10, 1653. She died on April 28, 1704. George Bonham was born in 1655. In 1658, George became a freeman and was a grand juror. In 1659 the court found Bonham's charges that John Smith had made scornful speeches against him to be frivolous and ordered them to choose neighbors to help settle the dispute. On June 3, 1662 George was on the list of ancient freeman to get land at Taunton and on June 7 1665 he was granted a thirty acre share near the Nemasket River. In 1672 he was allowed to build a fulling mill on the town brook. A fulling mill cleans wool to eliminate oils, dirt, and other impurities, and makes it thicker. George died April 18, 1704 in Massachusetts at the age of 93. Aprill 28th 1704 dyed our brothr George Bonham, he lived to a good old age, being about 95 years of age he was a man almost all men Spake well of & is gone to receve his Crown. Old Style Calendar Before 1752 the year began on Lady Day, March 25th,. Dates between January 1st and March 24th were at the end of the year. Old Style (O.S.) and New Style (N.S.) are used to indicate whether the year has been adjusted. Often both dates are used.Some Puritans gave their children hortatory names (from the Latin for “encourage”) like Thankful, hoping that the children would live up to them. The names were used for several generations. Any man entering a colony or becoming a a member the church, was not free. He was not forced to work, but his movements were carefully observed to see if they followed the Puritanical ideal. After this probationary period, he became a "freeman." Men then took the Oath of a Freeman where they vowed to defend the Commonwealth and not to overthrow the government.

Sarah Morton Bonham (1618-1694) married George Bonham.Europeans who made the voyage to America faced a difficult journey of several months. Memoranda Relating to the Ancestry and Family of Hon. Levi Parson Morton ...by Josiah Granville LeachSarah Morton, youngest daughter of George (No. 1) and Juliana (Carpenter) Morton, was born at Leyden, Holland, 1616-18; died at Plymouth, Massachusetts, 1694; married at Plymouth, December, 1644, as second wife, George Bonum. Mr. Bonum's residence, built at Plymouth in 1678, is still standing, and now known as the Leach house. He died 28 April, 1704, aged 86. Children of George and Sarah (Morton) Bonum, all born at Plymouth: 33. Ruth Bonum, married 28 November, 1666, Robert Barrow. 34. Patience Bonum, married 1665 Richard Willis. 35. Sarah Bonum born, December, 1649; died young. 36. Sarah Bonum, born 2 January, 1651-2; died young. 37. Sarah Bonum born December, 1653. Mister ( Mr.) was derived from master and Mrs. and Miss were derived from mistress. They indicated people of superior social status in colonial America. 1672 Liberty was granted George Bonham to erect a fulling mill on the town brook. This is the earliest date of any works on this stream other than grist-mills, of which two had been erected before, about 1631 and 1632. from History of the Town of Plymouth by James Thacher.

George Bonum

BIRTH 1604 DEATH 28 Apr 1704 (aged 99–100) BURIAL Unknown MEMORIAL ID 70404729

George was born about 1604.

George married Sarah Morton on 20 December 1644 in Plymouth, Plymouth Colony. (Their marriage is recorded in the Vital Records of Plymouth, page 655, as "GEORG BONUM and SARAH MORTON married 20 Dec. 1664) They had children: Ruth - about 1646 Sarah - 4 December 1649 Sarah - 10 December 1653 George - about 1657

George died in Plymouth, Plymouth county, Province of Massachusetts Bay. His death is recorded in "Plymouth Church Records, Volume 1, Part 3" where they list the men of the church as of March 10, 1703. His entry is as follows: "George Bonum Senr dyed april 28th 1704 95 years old [2]"

Family Members

Spouse
Sarah Morton Bonham 1620–1691

Children Ruth Bonum Barrow 1646–1684

Sarah Bonham Bryant 1653–1742

George Bonum 1657–1748

GEDCOM Note

For a history of the Bonham Family see: The Bonham Family by Samuel Jeremiah Bonham.

According to tradition the family left France and came to England during one of the periods of religious persecution.

George Bonham is listed as a passenger to Virginia, sailing on the boat Phillip on June 20, 1635 (List of Pilgrims of America, 1600-1700, page 94). His age is given as 31. If this be true, he lived to be about 100 years old since his death date at Plymouth is April 28, 1704.

However, the church record of Plymouth contains the following, “On April 28, 1704, dyed our brother George Bonham. He lived to a good old age being about 95 years of age …” indicating that his exact age is not known except that he was very old. (Ancient Landmarks of Plymouth”, W. T. Davis, Publications of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts, Vol 22, P. 199.

“He (George) built a house in 1678 which is still standing (in Plymouth).” (Genealogical Register of First Settlers of New England, John Farmer)